Background? In the late 90s, I created the PT program ("personal training") at
Nobles, receiving a grant from EEFord. We contracted with Lynne Schalman to come
once a week to work with key faculty members in various departments to
incorporate technology into their curriculum. Lynne continues to work at Nobles
with faculty members on a variety of projects. You can read more about this PT
program at the end of Chapter 13 on pages 389-392.
Computers resemble violins more than blenders. Buy yourself a blender, unbox
it and you're ready to use it. But get yourself a violin, and it's most likely
that you will need instruction. Without a good teacher, very few people can learn
to play the violin. With one, most people can! And even if you don't absolutely
need computer instruction, you can save yourself considerable time and
frustration. We believe that learning each software tool -- word processor,
database, spreadsheet, desktop publishing -- requires 10 to 30 hours of
instruction. And even though many educational software packages can be looked at
without instruction, an experienced user can save a first time looker hours of
time with instruction. Yes, of course, some people require no instruction. But
this is probably under one tenth of the population -- people willing to read
manuals carefully and spend hours fiddling with the features. Let's face it, most
normal people greatly prefer reading novels to manuals!
From: Lynne Schalman-fac
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 2:12 PM
Subject: Faculty Training Program in Technology
Dear Sir or Madam,
First of all, let me apologize for sending an unsolicited e-mail; I know
how your mailbox must fill with messages.
By way of introduction: My name is Lynne Schalman and I am the Codirector
of the Original Teaching Company, along with Steve Bergen of The Chapin
School. Steve and I have been conducting Summercore Computer Workshops and
faculty computer training programs for nineteen years. For the past six
years, I have been conducting faculty training sessions in Massachusetts
for Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, and recently for Park School in
Brookline and Thayer Academy in Braintree. One day per week at each
school, I focus specifically on computer skills and curriculum integration
of technology for individual and groups of faculty members. Relocating to
New York City, I would like to extend this service to independent schools
in the New York City area for September 2003.
Faculty training is the key to effective computer use, yet many technology
coordinators are busy with the daily management of hardware, software, and
the host of computer fires that need to be put out. My work at Noble and
Greenough, Thayer Academy, and Park School has been, I think, a plus for
each school in moving towards increasing computer integration. I meet with
10 or more faculty members at each school on a weekly basis. Sometimes
the sessions are one-on-one, and sometimes small groups. We cover both
computer skills and specific strategies for using the computers in the
classroom. I work with teachers from every discipline and at every grade
level, and I believe that the training programs have been quite successful
at each school. In addition, through Summercore, I have conducted week
long and one-day workshops for over 2000 teachers of all grade levels and
from independent schools throughout the country. I have conducted
in-service workshops for dozens of schools on a variety of topics, ranging
from avoiding plagiarism to creating webquests to safety issues and the
web.
I think that I can be helpful to your school in a similar manner. I am
offering this PT (Personal Training) program for your school. I could
meet a key group of faculty each week, working on their individual needs
and concerns. I would thus spend one day per week at your school for the
entire academic year, meeting with individuals or small groups. Working
alongside your tech department, I would create a weekly agenda that would
meet the needs of your school and your individual faculty members'
technology needs and concerns. Faculty members would learn at their own
pace and focus on incorporating those skills into their own classroom and
curriculum agenda.
If this PT Faculty training program interests you, please call or e-mail
me so that we can discuss the specific details. Resume and letters of
recommendation are available upon request. Additional comments of support
are posted on http://www.teachingcompany.com/pt/morerecs.html
Below are a few comments from faculty members who have been part of their
school's PT Program:
Kathy Neely, Chemistry Teacher, Thayer Academy
In my twenty-five years of teaching I found this to be one of,if not the
most valuable and practical workshops I have ever attended. If you want to
upgrade your computer skills at your own pace in the direction you choose,
Lynne is definitely the person for you. She's great!
Alex Keenan-Gallagher, History Teacher and Class IV Dean, Noble and
Greenough School
I have been fortunate enough to have some wonderful academic experiences
in my life. I love being a student and I am passionate about great
teaching. There is no doubt in my mind that Lynne is one of the finest
teachers whom I have ever worked with. Her ability to make the complicated
seem easy is a gift that I wish I possessed. She is thoughtful, flexible
and remarkably funny. Every day that I meet with Lynne is a day that I
become a better, and more technologically advanced teacher. My only regret
is that I didn't meet her sooner than I did. I consider it a blessing that
I am able to call Lynne my teacher.
Allison Webster, Grade Six Teacher, Park School
Lynne Schalman would make a great addition to any school because she is
first and foremost a teacher. While she has an amazing grasp of what is
useful and available on the web, in addition to a knowledge of a multitude
of software programs, the thing that makes her so valuable is her
knowledge as a teacher. Lynne understands that technology is just a
vehicle to further students' learning. Because of this understanding,
Lynne's ideas are always geared towards furthering my goals as a teacher.
She is a good collaborator because she is able to listen to my needs, and
then craft a technology solution that works in the classroom. In addition
to all of this competence, Lynne is just plain fun to have around. Her
lively, animated, and capable presence is just what "techies" and Luddites
alike need to navigate the crowded and complicated technology waters.
Please contact me at allison_webster@parkschool.org if I can offer any
additional information or support.
Thank you,
Lynne Schalman
The Original Teaching Company
781-953-9698
PT with Lynne Schalman
